As a local pastor, I absolutely love the season of Easter and the events and week leading up to it. On Easter Sunday, Disciples of Jesus Christ around the world will once again celebrate its relevance to our everyday life, hopes, dreams, challenges and struggles.

I have learned that just as surely as the season of spring brings the warmth of the sun and new life full of beautiful blooming plants, flowers and all of God’s creatures … so does Easter bring the promise of new hope and life from the Son of God, for all of his creation.

From the early church fathers to the present day, the crucifixion and the resurrection of Jesus Christ has been understood by the Historic Christian faith as providing the key to the door of forgiveness of sins and mistakes … and the glorious hope of the possibility of a new life.

This new life was described by Jesus as life in all of its fullness. A life filled with love, joy, peace and purpose, even in the storms and challenges of everyday living.

How about you? Do you need forgiveness and healing for past sins and mistakes? Do you need the promise of a new life full of hope, love and purpose? This is what the Historic Christian church celebrates on Easter Sunday!

• “Come taste and see that the Lord is good.” (Psalm 34:8)

• “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10b)

• “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16-17)